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Chapter 6

When Roan awoke, his head was throbbing and he frowned as he strained against the pain. He opened his eyes and stiffened. He was in a room he did not recognize, in a bed he didn't recognize either. His arm was in a sling and he was lying on his back, with soft - and every expensive - white bear furs pulled up to his chest. He realized with a jolt that he was on a ship: water pressed green against the round window in the opposite wall and the world swayed steadily but very gently. The room was lit by candlelight, the walls were pinned with maps, many shelves contained old leather-bound books, and sitting at a nearby desk . . . was a handsome and dignified young male.

Roan went very still. The stranger didn't seem to realize he was awake. His back was to Roan as he sat at the desk, writing quietly with a long blue quill. His fur . . . was blue. A moon wolf! He would pause every now and then and frown with thought. His large fingers and toned arm lay along the table, as beautifully shaped as the rest of him. A muscular scholar. And he smelled so good.

Roan watched the stranger, wondering what he should do or say. Looking at him, he could not decide if he was his kidnapper or perhaps his rescuer.

Before Roan had time to decide, however, the stranger noticed he was awake. He glanced over his shoulder with fluttering lashes and set the quill down. "Ah," he said, his voice pleasantly deep, "you're feeling better then. I had someone look at you." He turned slightly in the chair to look at Roan, and his pale gray eyes danced over him thoughtfully. "Those idiots harmed you when they took you. Twisted your wrist and nearly broke your arm. You've got a nasty fracture. I had someone inject pain relievers right into your arm. . . . but I'm afraid there's little more I can do for now."

Roan didn't know what to say. The male was watching him steadily, one arm resting on the desk, his gray eyes calm as the faceless sea.

"Well?" the stranger said. He turned to fully face Roan now and sat back in the chair, rubbing a paw up his hard thigh. Roan strained with difficulty not to look at the large, soft cock lying quiet in a nest of thick curly fur.

"Aren't you going to ask who I am?" the male went on. "What you're doing here? Why moon wolves have captured you?"

Roan eased himself up against the pillows. "Who are you? What am I doing here? Why have moon wolves captured me?"

Roan was surprised when the male laughed, delighted. He looked at Roan in amusement, his handsome face for the first time bright. Roan looked at him and thought he was beautiful. He wore a silver medallion around his thick throat. It hung quietly against his bulging pectorals. His long blue mane, meanwhile, was pulled back behind his shoulders and held in a low tail.

"I am Hukida," answered the male, watching Roan with the same amusement. "Shipmaster of this vessel. My family designed this ship and many like it."

Roan cocked an eyebrow, and for some reason, he got the feeling the male was trying to impress him. "Lucky you and your family," he said dryly. "Now what about the other part? Why am I here? You're a moon wolf . . . am I to be a slave?"

The apparent Hukida lifted his brows. "Surely you already know why . . . you've been a slave before."

Roan stared at him.

"Your name is Kilyan . . . is it not?" the male went on.

Roan's heart shrank. Why were moon slavers after his father! His father had been a slave before?! He looked at Hukida and realized he was waiting. "I - yes," he said, swallowing hard. "My name is Kilyan . . ." Roan averted his eyes. Perhaps if they thought they had the right wolf, they wouldn't continue their search. Then his father would be safe. And he could still escape . . . somehow.

"Yes, good," Hukida said, but Roan thought he didn't sound very convinced. He smiled wisely as his gray eyes danced over Roan.

Roan flattened his ears and silently cursed the fact that he was a terrible liar.

"Are you hungry?" Hukida asked him.

Roan stared at his lap and shook his head. He had already eaten that night with Theo. He sighed miserably. Theo! Theo had no idea what had happened to him, what was happening now. Theo was probably at home, in their bed, peacefully sleeping. And tomorrow he would wake up, cook breakfast . . . and Roan would never come home for it.

"Don't look that way," Hukida said, turning back to the desk. He began writing again. "I am just following orders. The chieftess longs for your return, Kilyan. The chief grew weary of her sadness and sent us to find you. He also longs for the return of his other slaves - the mother and child. Yanatiati and Yurisia. If you know what became of them, it would be in your best interest to tell me now. If you don't tell me, you will have to tell the chief. And believe me . . . you don't want it to come to that."

Hearing the dark tone in Hukida's voice, Roan could only assume he would be interrogated by the chief alongside a healthy dose of torture. He gulped. But he didn't have a clue who Yanatiati was! Or this . . . Yurisia.

"Perhaps if you gave me Yanatiati and Yurisia," Hukida went on calmly, "I would simply let you . . . walk away."

Roan's ears pricked forward. "What?"

"I could tell the chieftess we never found you. If you have not guessed," he said, peering down his nose at the parchment he was scribbling on, "I am not a slaver. My occupation is that of shipbuilding. I am here to keep the foolhardy slavers in line. I am the only one his highness could trust."

Roan laughed dryly. "And yet, you're willing to let me walk away."

Hukida smiled, not looking at Roan. "Yes. I care nothing for pleasing his majesty. He can not buy me with gold or his favor."

"Then why did you agree to do this?" Roan couldn't help wondering.

Hukida set down his quill and regarded Roan in amusement. "When your chief tells you to jump, you do not ask him why or complain that your knee has an ache. You simply jump." He picked up the quill again and went back to scribbling. "What's more, Chieftess Iyira is my cousin. I am obligated to show some familial loyalty, to do most anything she asks. The chief's personal pleasure slave and I are pretty much in the same boat - no pun intended. We are both here by the will of the chieftess."

Roan didn't answer. He sat regarding Hukida, who was calmly writing by the light of the dripping candles on his desk. A mess of rolled up parchment and stacked books towered over his work. Suddenly more curious than anxious, Roan rose from the bed and came to the desk. He gasped, impressed. Hukida was not writing but drawing the plans for a ship. The vessel was exquisite, with a horned moon and wreathing clouds as the ship's figurehead. In the top corner and in many places beside scribbled arrows, Hukida had written small notes.

Hukida watched Roan's amazed green eyes fondly. He dipped the quill in the inkwell and scribbled underneath the drawing"Roan" - as if to name the ship_._

_ _

Roan's heart skipped a beat. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Roan . . . that's my son's name." He looked at Hukida. "How do you know it?"

Hukida laughed. "Come, my terrible little liar," he said, dropping the quill in its holder on the desk. "You are not Kilyan but his - intensely attractive - sixteen-year-old son."

". . . I'm seventeen," Roan said shyly.

Hukida shrugged. "Close enough. I bet you'd never guess my age."

Roan's lashes fluttered when Hukida took his paw and pulled him down on his lap. They looked at each other. Hukida was smiling, but Roan was blushing: he could feel Hukida's hard thigh under his backside, the brush of his hot cock, and he could smell his musk . . . his sweet, sweet musk. It was overwhelming. Hukida was tall and strong - much taller and stronger than Roan. He stared at Roan with intense gray eyes. Roan felt a little flustered.

"How do you know my name?" Roan asked, looking away.

"You talk in your sleep," Hukida answered, amused. "You know what else you do in your sleep?" He glanced meaningfully at Roan's lap.

Roan wanted to die as Hukida's meaning became clear.

"You were in pain," Hukida went on, frowning slightly. "The idiots had really harmed you. I had someone come in to look at you, and you whimpered as he set your arm in the sling. I stroked your mane to sooth you . . . and you started to get . . ."

Hard. Roan bit his lip. So Hukida knew he was a tail chaser. Oh god.

"Given the reports," continued Hukida, "your father was straight. Straight as an arrow. It was the one thing the chieftess hated about him," he said with a laugh. "She hated it . . . and loved it. Watching Aren humiliate him with kisses gave her endless delight."

Roan made a face. "My father . . . was a pleasure slave?"

"So they say," Hukida answered with a shrug. "Tyne captured your father and brought him to the moon village, only to have him escape. This was a long time ago. A little over ten years, in fact. So I know the chieftess would believe it if I said we never found your father. They don't expect us to come back with Kilyan. The chief sent us out here to silence his wife's moaning."

"Can't you just let me go then?"

"I've thought about it," Hukida admitted. "You aren't even the one we're looking for. Why should we take you? But then . . . I saw you lying there in my bed." He swallowed.

Roan looked away, his heart thudding as he realized Hukida wanted him. Hukida touched his chin and made him look at him. Roan stiffened when he kissed him - tenderly, gently on the mouth. Roan found himself kissing Hukida back, and with a surge of guilt, he sprang from his lap.

"No," Roan said flatly and backed away. "I'm getting married."

Hukida smiled, and Roan was startled when he simply said, "Alright." He turned back to the desk and continued his scribblings.

Roan stood staring at that muscular back, not knowing what to think. He stumbled back and sank on the edge of the bed. He could feel the arousal coursing hot through him and closed his eyes, willing it to stop. Theo was the only one. The only one.

Roan looked at the window again. It was still night out. The water lapped dark green against the glass, and he thought with some relief that at least they weren't at sea yet. He still had a chance to get away, to get back to Theo, who was at home sleeping . . . so blissfully unaware that Roan was gone.

". . . are you really going to name that ship after me?" Roan asked after a while. He felt foolish for asking, but he sort of . . . liked the idea. A ship named after him!

"Would you like me to?" Hukida replied without turning. He sounded amused.

"Well . . . you offered."

Hukida laughed. "Ships can not be christened after slaves."

Roan's face darkened. "So you won't let me go. Why? Because I won't have sex with you!"

Hukida was silent for a long time, and Roan was frightened he had offended him. He didn't want to hurt Hukida's feelings. It suddenly occurred to him that he liked him. And what was more . . . he didn't want to be punished for his impertinence. He could easily predict a spanking. He glanced around the room for any sign of paddles or whips, but there were none.

"Tell me about this soon-to-be husband of yours," Hukida said length. His voice was calm and pleasant - as if they were discussing the matter over tea.

Roan glowered at Hukida's broad back. "Why?"

Hukida tisked. "I know my place in the order of things. But it seems you do not yet realize you are at my mercy. I have asked you to jump. You do not ask why."

"Does this mean . . . you still intend . . ." Roan glanced at the bed sheets. Was Hukida going to force him?

"One thing at a time, Roan. Please . . . indulge my curiosity."

Roan watched Hukida's back uncertainly a moment, but realizing he had been given an opportunity to plead his case, he stopped arguing. "I've known him since I was small. We were always friends. He was really close to my brother for a long time, so I never suspected . . ."

"That he cared," Hukida predicted.

"Yes," Roan said quietly, dreamily. He smiled. "He loved me all our lives, and I never knew it. I was in love with someone else . . ."

"And he finally got your attention. How?"

Roan blushed bright. "He . . . had sex with me."

Hukida lifted his brows, not looking up from his work. "Continue."

Roan's face twisted, embarrassed. "Really?"

"Really."

Roan sighed. "Well . . . my brother had just slipped off and left me alone on patrol. I came across him down by the river. He was alone. Theo was always wandering off alone, though warriors are never supposed to . . ."

"Ah, the recklessness of youth."

"His father was always pushing him," Roan explained. "Sade was very competitive and wanted Theo to be the best. Whenever Theo grew tired of it, they would argue. They had argued that day, so he was alone . . ."

"And he had sex with you. And you let him? Just like that?"

Roan bit his lip uncomfortably. ". . . I wanted it. I didn't realize how much I wanted it until it happened. I had thought of him that way before . . . but I never imagined anything would happen. All that time, I thought he was straight."

Hukida laughed softly. "Continue."

"He made love to me against a tree . . . I don't want to go on. This is personal!"

"Nonsense. Proceed."

Roan sighed. "He made love to me against a tree, beside the river. It was my first time. He told me later it his first time, too - though I never would have thought . . . And we met again and again. I would look for any excuse to ditch my brother on patrol. Sometimes my brother would just let me go off. And we would meet beside the river and . . ." Roan sighed happily. It took him a moment to realize Hukida was watching him in amusement.

"Young love," the shipmaster said, smiling as he turned back to his work. "I suppose I can help you get back to him --"

"Really!"

"The ship doesn't set out til noon tomorrow. I want to make sure there isn't going to be a storm. I have every intention of making it home in one piece."

Roan nodded, his heart thudding happily in his chest.

"Now if you don't mind . . ." Hukida dropped the quill in its holder again and stretched his arms above his head. Roan watched with quiet hunger as the tight muscles of his back flexed. "I am going to lie down for some much needed sleep. I have watched over you all night." He rose from the chair and turned to face the bed. "I trust you won't try anything foolish while I am sleeping. The ship is teeming with slavers."

Roan nodded humbly and scooted back on the bed. He lay on his back again and watched breathlessly as Hukida's big body moved fluidly to get beside him. Hukida pulled the sheets up over them, then the bear furs, and Roan's heart skipped a beat when the male's big arm fell across him. The shipmaster closed his eyes and went to sleep, and looking at his handsome face with silent longing, Roan knew he would not be in this mess if he had simply stayed in the summer village . . . as his father had wanted.

Roan stared at the ceiling, thinking of Kilyan and Lea. It was a long time before Roan had the chance to talk to his parents about leaving to be with Theo. Kilyan had come home with Avi and Wynn, and it seemed he spent his every waking moment with Avi. Roan, meanwhile, spent all this time playing with Wynn - tickling her with Zane and carrying her on his shoulders. Theo went on to the sun village with Zaldon and Enya, but Zaldon told Roan he would be back for him - if he still wanted to come.

Then Avi flew away, leaving Kilyan distraught, and Roan finally had a chance to speak to his father. It seemed like the opportune time at first, but sitting with Kilyan one night after supper, he realized he couldn't have chosen a worse time: Kilyan was already depressed enough with Avi's departure, and Lea and Ohana were sharing his pain as they comforted a very distressed Wynn.

The whole house was in mourning in the shemale queen's absence. With supper finished, Zane helped Ohana clean up, and the mother and son gathered the dishes with heavy movements. When before Ohana and Zane had laughed and splashed each other, now they washed the dishes solemnly and silently. A chore that used to be fun for them was now . . . a chore.

In the weeks that Avi had stayed with them, Lea had taken to playing with Wynn and caring for her like her own. She would tell Wynn a bedtime story each night, and the two were very happy in the routine. But now - with Avi long gone - Lea sadly took Wynn's paw and led her away down the hall for a bedtime story. Little Wynn bowed her head and went with Lea, sniffling quietly. It used to be that Avi would join in the nightly ritual, but Roan knew it would not be the same for Lea and Wynn without her.

Around this time, Roan would have normally bid his father goodnight and gone up the hall. But he sat beside Kilyan around the fire and glanced at his father pointedly. Kilyan had been off in some miserable reverie about Avi, but catching Roan's eye, he cleared his throat.

"What is it, son?"

"I . . . need to talk to you and Mom," Roan said, glancing at Ohana and Zane. He was glad to see they were finishing up. He really needed to talk to Kilyan and Lea alone. Ohana would be none too happy about Roan leaving - who she considered her son as much as Zane - and being the most passionate of the three parents, she was likely to make the talk very difficult for Roan.

"Is this about you not wanting to be a warrior?" Kilyan leaned forward and looked at Roan curiously. "I already told you, Roan - so long as you're happy, you can weave baskets for all I care."

Roan laughed. "No, Dad, it's . . . something else."

Kilyan lifted his brows. "This is about Theo?"

Roan nodded miserably. "Yes . . ." Behind him, he heard the dishes splash with a clatter in the water, and he knew Ohana had dropped them in horror.

"No," Ohana said at once, turning to face the room. "Roan, you're a child!" Behind her, Zane was looking miserable, and Roan felt a sting of guilt: Zane didn't want Roan to leave the village anymore than the rest of the family.

"Ohana," Kilyan said, closing his eyes, "please go and send Lea to us . . . and then please go to bed."

Ohana's nostrils flared. In the summer village, it was completely normal for husbands to order their wives around, and wives were expected to obey without question. Kilyan rarely exercised the right, but whenever he did, it was with good reason. Ohana took a shuddering breath, and Roan knew she was reminding herself that Roan wasn't really her child: talking to him about leaving for the sun village was Kilyan and Lea's burden.

"Of course, my husband," Ohana said, composing herself. She looked at Roan. "But know this, my son: I cared for you and fed you from my breasts the same as your brother!" She took Zane's arm, and he stood beside his mother, still looking miserable. "If you leave this village, you not only break Lea's heart - you will break mine as well!"

"Mom . . ." Zane softly scolded.

Ohana jerked her chin defiantly. "You're going to bed, Zane! Come along! I must fetch Lea for my husband!" She glanced bitterly at Kilyan, then swished from the room, pulling big Zane after her.

Kilyan sighed, and Roan knew his father would be in for it later: Ohana did not take being ordered around lightly.

"Dad," Roan protested, "you just said you wanted me to be happy."

Kilyan smiled at his son sadly. "But I want to be happy too, Roan. I'd be happy if you were a basket weaver here - not in the sun village."

Roan looked at his lap guiltily. Before he could answer, Lea entered from the hall. She looked worried, and Roan could only guess that Ohana's dramatics had tipped her off as to the nature of the conversation.

Beautiful, slender, and white, Lea came to the fire and sat beside Roan. She was wrapped in a black shawl that evening, which complimented her black stripes wonderfully. She looked at Roan sadly, then took his paw and squeezed it. Roan resisted the urge to drop his head on Lea's shoulder.

"I knew you were leaving us," Lea said heavily into the silence. "I just didn't know when. Unlike your father, I know my baby. I know him well."

Kilyan laughed. "And whenever she has the next one," he said, nodding at Lea's slender belly, "she'll know her too."

Roan sat between his parents as they looked at him sadly, and he didn't know what to say. He could tell Kilyan wanted to stroke his mane but was holding back for his sake: since he turned eight, Roan had become embarrassed by such affection from Kilyan and had always protested.

"You're only sixteen, Roan," Kilyan said, exasperated. "Theo was your first, but he's not the only male in the village. You might meet someone else, someone who lives _here._Stay here a year. With us."

"Dad . . ."

"I wasn't asking," Kilyan said darkly.

"Kilyan," Lea scolded.

Kilyan made a face. "Lea, he's a child! He's too young to know what he wants or who he really is! And he's still young enough for me to tell him where he gets to live. I'm his father. I still have some authority dammit!"

"Kilyan, you're upset because of Avi. Don't punish Roan for it!"

Kilyan looked away, frowning.

"I know you don't want anyone else to leave," Lea went on, and Roan felt a pang when tears started to her eyes. "I don't want Roan to leave anymore than you. But the truth is, we lost Roan last summer, when he left the village looking for Theo." She looked at her son and blinked out tears. "Didn't we, honey?"

Roan bowed his head. It was true. The moment he knew Theo was a fugitive and could not return was the moment he decided he would follow him to the ends of the earth. "I'm sorry, Mom . . ."

"Don't be sorry, baby," Lea said at once. She was still sniffing and blinking out tears, but she straightened up and put her arm around Roan. She rubbed his shoulder. "Your father may have forgotten, but he was the same when he was your age. He followed me when I was taken, and if I had decided to stay in the sun village, he would have stayed with me."

Roan blinked. When she was taken?

Kilyan gave Lea a grudging smile. "I shouldn't have sent Ohana away," he joked. "She would be on my side . . ."

"Dad . . ." Roan squeezed his father's knee, "I need you to be on my side."

"But on your side I don't get my way!"

Roan and Lea laughed.

Kilyan smiled. He hesitated, then pushed the loose tendrils of mane back from Roan's eyes. "You know how hard it is, letting you go? You're my very first puppy. I still remember the night you were born. Loryn brought me to his house . . . Lea gave birth to you right in the front room, near the fire. You decided to come after the two of you ate supper."

Roan laughed, and beside him, he heard Lea laugh too. She sniffed and smiled through her tears, looking at Roan mistily as she rubbed his shoulder.

"Your mother put you in my arms," Kilyan went on, smiling at Roan, "and I knew in that moment . . . nothing I wanted mattered. You were all that mattered." He laughed weakly. "I guess nothing has changed. You'll go to the sun village and leave me, and I'll let it happen because your happiness is more important than mine."

"Thanks, Dad," Roan said happily and was astonished when he was suddenly blinded by tears. "I love Theo so much. If I had to be without him. . . ." He looked at Kilyan seriously. "I want to marry him, Dad."

Lea grinned. "A wedding! Oh, Roan honey, it's going to be wonderful --"

"He's sixteen!" Kilyan repeated, still exasperated. "It's one thing to --"

"Oh, hush, Kilyan," Lea scolded. "Can't you see that Roan has grown up? One more year and he would have left us anyway. If not for Theo, then for a female."

Kilyan sighed, looking at Roan sadly. "I'm not ready," he said heavily. "But I can see you are, son. . . ." He smiled. "Do I get to give you away?"

Roan laughed. "Dad!" He slipped his toned arm in Kilyan's, and suddenly giving in, he dropped his head on his shoulder. "Yes, Dad. You can give me away."

Kilyan dropped his head on Roan's, not seeing the happy way in which Lea watched them. "And you're sure Theo can take care of you? I mean . . . I know he's a great warrior and everything. He can provide. But . . . will he take care of your heart?"

"Yes, Dad," Roan assured his father. "He's more than willing to."

Kilyan snorted. "He better damn-well be. If he hurts you after all this mess, I'll --!"

"Kilyan," Lea scolded.

Kilyan bit his lip.

Lea put her arm around Roan, and the parents snuggled their son beside the fire. Lea took Roan's paw, and with his arm still looped in his son's, Kilyan did the same.

"Little Roan, we love you," Lea sang.

"Nothing else that we could do," Kilyan added.

Roan smiled and closed his eyes, listening as his parents sang to him. It was a lullaby they'd made up when he was born. He hoped one day he and Theo would have a child to sing lullabies to.

Present-day Roan blinked, jerked out of his thoughts when the shipmaster snorted in his sleep. Hukida still had his arm around him and was breathing gently. God, he was handsome. His hard body was warm against Roan's. His breath hit the side of Roan's face, and it was sweet-smelling.

"Mmm . . ." Hukida moaned and snuggled closer. His soft dick brushed Roan under the sheets, and Roan grimaced . . . as he got hard.